Irish players were the undisputed kings and queens of the fairways at the 5^th European Transplant & Dialysis Games in Wurzburg, Germany yesterday – with the top male and female prizes going to members of the Irish team.

Kildare butcher James Nolan, who just recently celebrated the 21^st anniversary of his new kidney, marked his gold medal triumph by telephoning the woman who gave him the gift of life – his sister Catherine.

“Twenty-one years ago, Catherine donated one of her kidneys to me. It gave me a new lease of life, and she was the first person I telephoned when I won the golf,” said James, who plays off a 23 handicap, and is a member of Rathsallagh Golf Club in Co. Kildare.

“It was a forgiving course for a handicap golfer like me, and I was very happy with how I played.” The ladies tournament was won by Marie O’Connor, the 12-handicapper from Lahinch, Co. Clare, who earlier this year won the ladies Captain’s Prize in her own club.

“It’s great to have won,” said Marie. “I felt I played well and there was great excitement when James and I were announced as the winners.”

The winning didn’t stop there for Ireland. A one-two-three in the men’s section was completed by Dublin Mick Dywer, a 19-handicapper who plays out of Glencullen Golf Club, and Donegal man Hugo Boyce, a member of Ballyliffin Golf Club off a handicap of 23.

And Deirdre Faul, who plays off 29 and is a member of Grange Castle Golf Club, was runner-up in the ladies tournament.

“It was a very good team effort all round,” said Mick Dwyer, the team captain. “We had five golfers in the tournament, and they took the five top prizes. That was truly superb.”

All five have further events over the coming days. Each of them has already received a transplant, as follows:

James Nolan – kidney, 1987;

Mick Dwyer - kidney, 2000 (and a new artificial hip in 2007)

Hugo Boyce – kidney,1988;

Marie O’Connor – two kidney transplants, 1996 and 1998;

Deirdre Faul – liver, 2003.

You can follow the team’s progress on www.transplantteamireland.com.

For an organ donor card free text the word ‘DONOR’ to 50050 or log on to www.ika.ie for more information.